In Memory of the Holy Shaliach, Hy”d: Dedication of a Beacon of Light for the Youth of Beitar
During the month of Menachem Av, as we yearn for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash and await complete consolation, miniature sanctuaries that illuminate the darkness of exile continue to be built across the globe. In the city of Torah and Chassidus, Beitar Illit, at the bustling commercial center that serves as a daily crossroads for human connection, a deeply emotional moment took place this week with the dedication of “Migdal Or – Youth Center and Synagogue – Beis Zvi.” The center, named in pure memory of the holy Shaliach, Rabbi Zvi HaCohen Kogan, Hy”d, symbolizes above all the eternal Chassidic response: transforming profound human pain into a tremendous momentum of action and drawing hearts closer.
In an uplifting and majestic ceremony, the honor of affixing the mezuzahs at the entrance of the new center was given to the Gaavad of Beitar Illit, Hagaon Rabbi Chaim Elazar Weiss, and the city’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Hagaon Rabbi Yitzchak Moalem. Afterward, the two were honored with saying ‘L’chaim’ and encouraged the work of the Shaliach, Rabbi Pini Deitsch, on behalf of the youth’s future. The rabbis then blessed the teenagers attending the event and even joined them in a dance of joy and encouragement.
The lighthouse commemorates the wondrous figure of Rabbi Kogan, Hy”d, who grew up in Jerusalem, was drawn to the light of Chassidus, and worked with immense dedication in Abu Dhabi under the Chief Rabbi and Head Shaliach of the UAE, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak HaLevi Duchman. This continued until the 20th of Cheshvan, when he was brutally kidnapped and murdered by evildoers, his holy body found three days later. The murder that shook the Jewish world became the cornerstone of a tremendous spiritual enterprise operating under the “Bayit BaKikar” organization, headed by Rabbi Deitsch and his wife.
The story of “Bayit BaKikar” is interwoven with wondrous Divine Providence (Hashgacha Pratis). It all began over three years ago with modest activities of putting on Tefillin with the workers of the ‘Kikar Ha’Ir’ center. Step by step, the initiative developed into regular Torah classes, until it has now expanded into a permanent center that serves as a warm, inclusive home, offering prayer services and spiritual inspiration on weekdays and Shabbos.
A deeply moving moment coming full circle was felt when the father of R’ Zvi Kogan, Hy”d, Rabbi Alexander Sender HaCohen, shared a touching memory. A few years ago, his son R’ Zvi needed to urgently arrange a passport issue with the Ministry of Interior, and the only place he could get an appointment was the branch in Beitar Illit. His father went to assist him, and on his way, he passed through ‘Kikar Ha’Ir,’ where he met the Shaliach, Rabbi Pini, who was helping passersby put on Tefillin. The father was deeply impressed by the activity. “Today,” the father said in a trembling voice before the tearful crowd, “in the exact same place where we met Pini, a beacon of Torah is being opened in the name of my son, Hy”d, and by that very same Shaliach.”
Special emotion was added to the event as the dedication of the lighthouse and youth center coincided with the joy of the ‘Chalakah’ (Upsherin) of the Shaliach Rabbi Pini Deitsch’s son. The double celebration left a profound impression on all the participants, who witnessed firsthand the continuity of tradition and the future generation growing up on the knees of Torah and Chassidus. The curls of the boy, who had just turned three, were cut in front of the moved audience, serving as a clear symbol of life, growth, and hope—the ultimate and decisive answer to all those who seek our harm.
Many friends participated in the event, including Deputy Mayor Rabbi Gedalia Eisenstein; Chabad askanim, among them Rabbi Moshe Kahana and R’ Yaakov Hershkop, as well as R’ Boaz Beck; along with close supporters of this blessed activity, and teenagers who work in the area and are part of the “Bayit BaKikar” family, regularly participating in the extensive activities held for them year-round.
This extensive activity crosses the city’s borders and radiates the light of Ahavas Yisroel. Every Friday, Rabbi Deitsch goes with his father-in-law, Rabbi David Beck, to the nearby Border Police base to give the soldiers the merit of putting on Tefillin and to distribute Shabbos candles. This deep connection birthed an extraordinary gesture: the soldiers voluntarily collected donations to purchase a beautiful pair of Tefillin, choosing to present it to one of the youths of “Bayit BaKikar.” The young man who received the Tefillin during the event stood before the crowd and expressed his gratitude through choking tears.
The uplifting event concluded with a grand and festive double Seudas Mitzvah in honor of the center’s dedication and the Chalakah celebration, hosted by the Shluchim in the hall adjacent to the Chabad House. In an atmosphere of spiritual elevation, filled with the singing of soul-stirring Niggunim and the taking on of good resolutions (Hachlatos Tovos), the participants left with a profound sense that “Migdal Or – Beis Zvi” is not merely a memorial monument, but an active lighthouse building a bright, connected future for the younger generation. The light of the holy Shaliach will continue to shine in the hearts of the youth, with fervent anticipation for the complete and immediate Redemption.
Photography: Avraham Yeshayahu
